Never shop in the store again: Why online shopping is better for the environment

Above all, online shopping is convenient and easy. But did you know that it can be much more environmentally friendly than going shopping in the store? In this practical tip, we highlight the most important aspects that you should definitely consider before your next shopping tour.

Because of laziness: online shopping is better for the environment

How the eco-balance for online trade performs always depends on which aspects are particularly emphasized in the respective study. Nevertheless, there is a lot to be said for shopping from home.

• What speaks for online shopping in any case is that there is hardly a more convenient and time-saving way to do your shopping. In addition, online shops are usually no more expensive than retail - as our comparison portal BestCheck proves, the opposite is usually the case.
• The comparison offers are only a mouse click away from each other when shopping online, so the nerve-wracking price comparison in various shops is no longer necessary, and then ends up at the first one again.
• Also not uncomfortable is the fact that you have endless thinking time and are not pushed by a seller. A study by New York marketing scientist Scott Galloway found that avoiding sales contacts is one of the strongest motives for online shopping worldwide.
• The additional packaging waste is often listed as a negative aspect of online shopping. Contrary to popular belief, this is relatively low. The only thing that is added are cardboard boxes, which will often be used anyway and can otherwise be easily used as waste paper.
• The argument of multiple deliveries against online shopping cannot convince either. In the meantime, every online customer knows at least one day in advance when their parcel will arrive and can take appropriate precautions. In addition, the parcel services run almost the same route every day anyway and do not have to take additional routes to deliver again.

Shopping ecologically sensible online - how it works

In order to keep your ecological footprint as low as possible, you can also do something for the environment when shopping online.

• Do not constantly order individual products from different online retailers, but try to order as many products at one time from an online shop. Maybe you just go on an online shopping tour with friends and order a package together.
• Think carefully in advance whether you really want the corresponding part. Too frequent returns are rather an argument against online trading and enlarge your ecological footprint quite a bit. Although opinions differ depending on the study.
• The return rate is particularly high for clothing and shoes, especially since the fabric and color in pictures often have a different effect than in nature. And the not insignificant fit sometimes turns out completely different than expected.
• Therefore, it is not necessarily wrong to choose the classic shopping route for clothing. In addition, an occasional shopping spree followed by a visit to a café is also a lot of fun and serves for interpersonal communication.
• You should not be put off by the argument that traditional shops have a high ecological balance sheet due to their not insignificant energy requirements. This is countered by at least one very important argument that many eco-fanatics like to overlook generously: If there were no more shops, many jobs would be lost without replacement.

Many online retailers are also constantly thinking about how they can improve your service and the ecological balance. In the future, for example, you will also receive your packages from Amazon at the petrol station. Tip: If you want to save money when shopping online, you should look for discount offers. For example, Galeria Kaufhof offers many discounts.